Plans unveiled for extra lane between West Malling and Aylesford on M20

The six-mile stretch is being upgraded to a smart motorway

An extra lane is set to be made available on a six-mile stretch of the M20 as highways chiefs unveil plans to upgrade it to a smart motorway.

The proposals go on show this weekend ahead of the introduction of new technology which will help manage traffic to reduce delays and improve safety.

Under the plans, the hard shoulder will be permanently converted into a live running lane in both directions between junction three, where the M20 merges with the M26 near West Malling and junction five for Aylesford.

New signs and signals will be used to vary the speed limit to reduce congestion at busy times, and to control traffic if there is an obstruction on the road ahead, as is currently in operation further along the motorway.

Highways England project manager Kaluba Kampandila said: “This new stretch of smart motorway will tackle congestion and improve journey times for more than 112,000 drivers who use it every day.

“Smart motorways are central to our ambitious plans for modernising the motorway network and will add 120 miles of new lanes to motorways in the south east by 2020.

“Drivers will also see better information about conditions through new smart motorway technology which helps us to manage incidents, smooth traffic flow and make journeys more reliable.

“I urge anyone interested in the upgrade of the M20 to a smart motorway to come to one of the information events and talk to the team to find out more.”

Work is scheduled to start in March 2018, with the smart motorway being fully operational in early 2020.

Public information events are being held at Ryarsh Village Hall between 3pm and 9pm on Friday, at Trottiscliffe Village Hall from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, and at Community Hall, Capel Morris Centre at the Royal British Legion Village from 3pm to 9pm on Friday, September 22 and 10am to 5pm on Saturday, September 23.